Mary's Blog

Is the dandelion the “flower” of the spring season?

It seems so! They have proliferated in so many gardens this year, particularly front gardens and verges, whether people like them or not. With so many dandelions in bloom, they have woven a carpet of yellow, which can be easily confused with oilseed rape about to appear in farmers’ fields and hedgerows.

Dandelions (from the French “dent de lion”, depicting their sharp lion tooth-like leaves) are classed as a weed – a plant that grows where it is unwanted! Dandelions are thought to have evolved about thirty million years ago in Eurasia and have been used as food and medicine for much of recorded history. The dandelion has diuretic properties and provides a source of nectar for most insects.

I remember collecting dandelion flowers from fields and roadside verges years ago for a relative who made a very invigorating white wine from them and just a hint of Pinot Grigio!

Would you believe that the Germans have tested tires made with a blend from dandelion-rubber and are scheduled to test them on roads during the coming years.

A tortoise I “rescued” from a pet shop years ago named Napoleon, survived by his ‘girlfriend’ Josephine, both believed to be over 50 years, loved to munch on dandelions, leaves and flowers. I believe dandelions extended their lives. Who knows, maybe dandelions could extend our lives too. Having said that, tortoises on the Galapagos live to 100 and there is only the roughest vegetation available to them.

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Photo credit – sandiquiz

Gathering in the washing from the line this afternoon, I was greeted by that cheery chirp of the garden or European robin.

Actually calling him “robin redbreast” is deceptive, because it has a distinctive orange breast. This is because the colour orange was unknown in the English language until the 16th century.

The European robin is one of many species originally described by Linnaeus in his 18th century work. It prefers spruce woods in Northern Europe, contrasting with its preferences for parks and definitely gardens in our British Isles.

The robin is considered generally to be the gardener’s “friend” and for reasons of folklore – should never be harmed! They are generally unafraid of people and much drawn to human activities involving the digging of soil, in order to look for grubs and worms. My cheery garden friend is no exception and follows me around to see if I am going to unearth a wriggly accompaniment to the daily allocation of sunflower hearts I distribute. The robin can also be a night “flitter” and has been observed actively hunting insects on moonlit nights.

Would you believe European robins can be found in Fuerteventura. Very surprising, as the species does not breed either on that island or on neighbouring Lanzarote. They are actually wintering on the islands or just passing through during migrations between Africa and Europe.

Which makes me wonder… has “my” garden robin just arrived from Lanzarote?

I will never know. But it surely does.

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Up to 500,000 wildebeest migrate through Africa’s Serengeti – but numbers overall are in decline

The future of Africa’s wildlife is hanging in the balance. Lions, cheetahs and hyenas are all experiencing declining populations. These animals once roamed majestically across the African continent. Today they can only be found in pockets of their former wilderness.

The once vast herds of grazing animals that follow climatic seasons in search of fresh grass across the plains have been decreasing for decades. The wildlife organisation SAVE is working to recover declining wildebeest populations.

And what of the elephant and rhinoceros poached for their tusks on demand by an insatiable oriental appetite for ivory?

An endeavour to keep Africa’s people free from the scourges of disease is paramount, but let’s not forget the fragile African ecosystem that depends on this fauna too. Let’s not develop a taste for Africa wildlife on our western dinner tables, that can only accelerate its extinction.

I am not a purist when it comes to being a vegetarian. I am all for encouraging the consumption of “home grown” free range produce so that we can avoid endangering the world’s more exotic wildlife.

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A Goldcrest (c) 2012 Ron McCombe.

The answer is: the season of spring, when birds and animals are preparing to enjoy the coming months with new birth and hopefully continuing warmth and sunshine. My garden has a semi-wild area containing shrubs, bushes and a “stopped-in-its-tracks” real-life, pitifully shortened, Redwood tree. It’s probably a quarter of its natural size. I have to think of the neighbours.

Located in my randomly organised garden and centrally situated is a bird bath. I walked in its direction to see who and what was enjoying a drink. A remarkable sight, no heavier than a 5p coin – a Goldcrest. Having wintered here in Yorkshire, it must surely be on its return journey to Scandinavia. This tiny insectivorous bird enjoying a refreshing drink in my garden, survives our somewhat erratic mild to severe British winters. It will now proceed on its long journey, heading over the North Sea waves to its homeland, undoubtedly to breed and return late autumn to winter in Yorkshire once again.

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British Hedgehog Preservation Society Bonfire Night Campaign

I consider some of my garden guests to be “aliens” – but not the hedgehog that devours slugs, beetles and other invertebrates that damage and eat our hard-earned gardening produce.

So please check your bonfire site closely for hedgehog activity. Unlike Guy Fawkes, he has no experience of explosives and no sense of history for 1605!

Let’s safeguard all hedgehogs that might think they have a nice safe haven for the winter. Spare a thought for that small animal that rolls itself into a ball at the first sign of danger and will not notice he is nesting inside his own funeral pyre!

More information about preserving our British hedgehogs here.

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